5 Leadership Lessons from Soccer
In 2021, I decided to get back into my childhood love of soccer.
It was the sport I was always best at, but a Middle School injury set me back 15 years. As I reevaluated life in my 30’s, I decided to throw myself into the unknown yet again and try something anew.
Starting with a random team, I later found myself doing what I do in the professional world — bringing people together on a new team. Over 6 months, I started the Palm Beach Outlaws FC with some of the best people I know and Captained our team to BASL League Champions.
Sure, it’s Tuesday night adult rec league soccer — Big Whoop!
But it’s the accomplishments outside winning games that are most important. It’s learning something new, building new friendships, and applying the experience to all aspects of your life.
The Leadership Lessons I learned from this game can help in more than one place in life
1. Passing = Trust
Shaking off the rust is always hard, but when you can’t execute people notice. And this isn’t personal, its natural — if you’re trying to win a game you’re going to take your best shot.
For example, if someone feeds you a pass and you can’t get off a good shot on goal, that person won’t always trust you with a pass again.
So if you’re reliable on the field, in the office, or wherever you do you thing — people will notice and trust you to get it done time and again. And if not, just keep working at it.
2. Co-Captains = Delegation
It didn’t take me long to realize I couldn’t do it all on my own, and others had great ideas and more knowledge of the game. Those who are most vocal, are most often those who have the most to offer.
By engaging people’s ideas off the field, and experience on it, we built a team that works together. It’s the Captains job to help facilitate conversation, and ask people to do what they’re best at.
Thanks to Anna Mucci, Shea Stockman, JeanCarlo Ramirez, and Ryan Young for being these amazing people.
3. Rosters = Organization
Many can attest my OCD of spreadsheets and scheduling can reach the level of annoyance. The jokes about endless cal invites, WhatsApp messages, and Google Forms prove that.
But no one questions the process, as the hard work gets done and everyone can focus on the game itself.
This is true in any group, where leaders remove roadblocks through organization. This allows their teams to thrive at what their best at.
4. Practice = Experience
I’m now at the point of playing at least four (4) days a week. Partly for exercise, and partly to get better for my team.
Not in every case does a Captain have to be the best player on the field, or a CEO be best at what their company does. But they have to hold their own, and be best at bringing out the best in their team.
As I get back into the game, I try to learn something new every week online, and practice it on the field to gain some new experience.
5. Winning < Having Fun
When putting together the team, I looked where I had surrounded myself with great people. Those who can share a beer after a tough game because no matter what we had some fun out there.
My hypothesis was to build a team focusing on Great Attitude, Work Ethic, and Creativity. This rather than pure skill or an aggressive all out winning mentality.
This I learned from former Miami Marlins GM Michael Hill, who often signed respected experienced players to mentor younger ones.
Simply, we need to have fun with what we’re doing or why do it? And leaders have to keep fun in the picture wherever it is.
Thanks for reading!
Thanks to Travis Thomas from the USMNT for helping inspire this article, and all of my friends and teammates for helping me grow as a player and a person.
